The Care of a Patient with Fournier's Gangrene
CASE REPORT The care of a patient with Fournier’s gangrene Esma Özşaker, Asst. Prof.,1 Meryem Yavuz, Prof.,1 Yasemin Altınbaş, MSc.,1 Burçak Şahin Köze, MSc.,1 Birgül Nurülke, MSc.2 1Department of Surgical Nursing, Ege University Faculty of Nursing, Izmir; 2Department of Urology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Izmir ABSTRACT Fournier’s gangrene is a rare, necrotizing fasciitis of the genitals and perineum caused by a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic microor- ganisms. This infection leads to complications including multiple organ failure and death. Due to the aggressive nature of this condition, early diagnosis is crucial. Treatment involves extensive soft tissue debridement and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Despite appropriate therapy, mortality is high. This case report aimed to present nursing approaches towards an elderly male patient referred to the urology service with a diagnosis of Fournier’s gangrene. Key words: Case report; Fournier’s gangrene; nursing diagnosis; patient care. INTRODUCTION Rarely observed in the peritoneum, genital and perianal re- perineal and genital regions, it is observed in a majority of gions, necrotizing fasciitis is named as Fournier’s gangrene.[1-5] cases with general symptoms, such as fever related infection It is an important disease, following an extremely insidious and weakness, and without symptoms in the perineal region, beginning and causing necrosis of the scrotum and penis by negatively influencing the prognosis by causing a delay in diag- advancing rapidly within one-two days.[1] The rate of mortal- nosis and treatment.[2,3] Consequently, anamnesis and physical ity in the literature is between 4 and 75%[6] and it has been examination are extremely important.
[Show full text]